Car-coupling



(No Model.)

P. G, NIKON. UAR GOUPLING.

No. 452,680. Patented May 19,1891.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

FRANK G. NIKON, 0F CHALK MOUND, KANSAS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 452,680, dated. May 19, 1891.

Application filed December 29,1890. Serial No, 376,059. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. 'NIXON, ofi

' ing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The obJects of this invention are to provide a simple practicable car-coupling which will be automatic in action when used in pairs to couple adjacent cars, and that will also afford means for the convenient connection of acar having the improved coupling to one provided with an ordinary coupling and a coupling-pin.

To .these ends my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures.

Figure 1 isaperspective view of the device in position upon the front end of a car shown broken. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section of two of the improved couplings in coupled condition. Fig. 3 is a plan view of two couplings embodying the improvements shown in coupled adjustment. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the coupling-link of the improved coupling detached, and Fig. 5 represents one of a pair of keeper-blocks that are portions of the coupling.

The draw-head A is preferably cast into form and has its rear portions A suitably elongated and adapted to be secured upon the under side of the car-frame, of which B is a front cross-timber.

The portion of the draw-head A that is forward of the timber B islaterally and vertically enlarged and provided with a chamber C, open at the top and of a proper depth, there being a substantial bottom 'wall a and side walls l) thereto. The rear portion of the chamber C is rounded and undercut, as at c in Fig. 2, leaving a forwardly-projectingpor tion above, as at d in said ligure. The chamber C is contracted laterally from the front face of the draw-head to afford two equal opposite shoulders d a proper distance from said face, and near the rear a similar contraction of the chamber is produced to form shoulders e and a narrow recess c, which extends vto the rear wall d of said chamber.

The link D is formed substantially as shown in Fig. 4, and consists of an elongated rectangular bar of metal, having a laterally enlarged head portion g, which extends from 71, where two opposite shoulders are produced, the head being preferably rounded on the edge forwardly, as shown in Fig. 3. The head g of the link D is designed to loosely fit Within the chamber C of the draw-head between the shoulders c and d thereon, the latternamed offsets being adapted to engage with the shoulders 72. on the link when the parts are in a coupled condition. The length of the link D is so proportioned to that of the chambers in two similar draw-heads A as to enable a ready connection between the latter to be effected by the link, as shown in Fig. 2, and to allow a short distance to intervene, so that curving on the railroad will not cramp the action of the couplings, there being sufficient side play afforded between the link and narrowed forward portion of the chambers C to permit the insertion of the head and body of the link into place when a coupling of two cars is eifected automatically.

The rear end of the link D is provided on the side edges with trunnions 'i of the same thickness, said trunnions being rounded on the upper side and iiat on the lower side. From the rear end of the link, between the trunnions t', projects a tongue m, having its lower face in the plane of the bottom of the link and its upper face rounded toward the end.

Between the shoulders e and the rear wall of the chamber C the side walls of recess e are cut away vertically of a proper depth, so as to provide a groove c2 on each side wall for the introduction of a keeper-block F of a like form in each groove, which blocks consist of rectangular blocks having their lower ends provided with 'a curved recess to 'tit the rounded portions of the trunnionsz' on the link D, said blocks being bolted in place, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

A plate-spring Gr extends through a longitudinal channel n, formed in the draw-head A through the rear wall of the chamber C, the rear end of said spring being secured upon the lower side of the portion A of the draw-head, and the forward end, which bears upon the under kface of the link D, is bifur- IOO cated to allow of the movcnientvof the tongue nt of the link. The draw-bar is supported upright or held depressed by the spring when rocked on its trunnions, as represented in Fig. 2.

A pusher-bar I is located in a longitudinal groove o in the bottom ot chamber C. Said pusher-bar I extends through a perforation formed in the upwardly-prejecting front wall n of the chamber C, whereon the link rests when in a. coupled condition. The pusherbar I is held forwardly proiected a proper distance exterior of the draw-head front wall by an encircling spring p, which is attached at one end tothe bar and at the opposite end to the draw-head front wall, the inner end ot' the pusher-bar being near to the tongue m on the link D and in alignment with it.

A transverse rock-shaft J is journaled in perforations of the draw-head side walls l), and within a cavity fr, formed in the lower wall of the chamber C, aligning with the groove o, au eccentric s is formed on or sccured to the rock-shaft, whereon the pusherbarI rests, said rock-shaft being provided exterior of the sides ol the draw-head with the arms u, both extending in the same direction and weighted at their ends to hold them normally pendent and the eccentric s removed from contact with the pusher-bar.

In operation the links of approaching couplings on cars are elevated and will so remain if the eccentrics s are left in the position shown at the right-hand side in Fig. 2. On the coupling, which is to be secured by its link to a similar coupling on another car, the rock-shaft .I is manipulated to throw its eccentric up?" as represented at the left-hand side in the same ligure, which will elevatethe inner end of the pusher-bar I, so that the abutment of the draw-heads A will shove this pusher-bar inward, causing it to strike the tongue m and rock the upright link downwardly, so as to enter its head within the chamber of the other draw-head, and thus attach the cars automatically. There is a perforation g made in the head g of the link I) to enable a connection of said link with a careoupling of the ordinary link-and-pin type. The coupling-pin of such a drawhead may be inserted through its walls and the hole y' of the link D, and thus con neet the improved coupling with one of the common kind.

llaving thus described my invention, what I` claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with a draw-head having a chamber that is open forwardly and above and keeper-blocks secured therein, of a link provided with truunions that are engaged by the keeper-blocks. and a plate-spring which is secured to the draw-head and bears upon the link, substantially as set forth.

In a car-coupling, the eoinbinatioii,\vith a drawehead, of a pivoted link, a spring for holding the link either inahorizontal or-vertical position, and a spring-actuated pusherbar for throwing the link into a horizontal position, substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head, of a pivoted and spring-pressed link, a sp ring-actuated pusher-bar, and means for raising and lowering the pusher-bar,sub stantially as herein shown and described.

4,-. In a car-coupling, thc combination, with a recessed draw-head, of a headed lilik pivoted in the said recess, a spring engaging the pivoted link, a spring-actuated pusher-bar, and an eccentric for raising the inner end of the pusher-bar, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The con'ibiuation, with a draw-l1ead having a chamber open on top and in front and contracted to form a narrow front passage and forward shoulders and a narrow rear recess, and a spring extending into said rear recess, of a link journaled in said rear recess and previded with a head having shoulders,substantially as set forth.

G. The combination, with a draw-head having a chamber open on top and in front and contracted to form a narrow front passage and forward shoulders and a narrow rear recess, a spring extending into said recess, and a spri 11g-actuated p ash-bar located in a groove in the bottom of said chamber, of a link journaled in said rear recess having a rearwardly-entending finger and provided with a head havin g shoulders, and a transverse shaft journaled in the drawhead beneath said push-bar and having an eccentric adapted to engage said bar, substantially as set forth.

FRANK G. NIXON.

Witnesses:

.W. T. EckLEs,

SE'rH L. BocAN.

TOO 

